A Tooth Missing in Your Smile Can Be Replaced by a Dental Implant

Posted December 22, 2016.

Author:

When a tooth in your smile is knocked out, extracted, or lost to severe tooth decay, it can leave you feeling self-conscious about your appearance. If the tooth isn’t replaced in a timely manner, the nearby teeth can slowly start to shift positions, causing chips to form on the corresponding teeth in your bite. At this point, your dentist, Dr. Tontra Lowe, DDS, might recommend replacing the tooth with a dental implant in Haymarket, Virginia.

Your dentist will first assess the underlying bone structure in the area to make sure there is sufficient bone to anchor the implant. If the extraction process also removed some bone tissues in the socket, you might need to receive a bone graft to restore the missing structure.

Then, she will make a careful incision in your gums. A narrow channel will then be made into the bone. A titanium implant will be screwed into the channel in the bone and your gums will be sutured closed.Titanium is known for being biologically safe and will fuse with your natural bone in a process known as osseointegration.

Once the titanium implant has fully achieved fusion with the surrounding bone tissues, Dr. Tontra Lowe, DDS will take an impression. This will be sent to a professional dental lab where a dental crown will be fashioned from porcelain.

If you’ve lost a tooth in your smile and you’d like to know more about dental implants, you should call 571-261-2600 to schedule an appointment at Awesome Smiles Dental Center.